Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, within the limits of deviation of HS2 in the Euston area, how much space is planned for office buildings associated with HS2, and how much is planned to be available for commercial office and retail space.

baroness sugg: HS2 Ltd are currently leading the procurement of a Master Development Partner (MDP) for Euston on behalf of the Department for Transport and Network Rail. The MDP will provide design, planning and development services to optimise and develop the over site development (OSD) potential at, and around, the Euston station site. The MDP’s remit includes commercial, office and retail opportunities which will be influenced by the maturing HS2 station design, future proposals for the Network Rail station and constraints on the site such as viewing corridors. The Secretary of State for Transport aims to appoint the MDP in 2018. Development plans are at an early stage, but planning proposals and consultation will be brought forward with the local community and the London Borough of Camden in due course. Work to date indicates that there is an estimated 2.5m square feet of developable area above the HS2 Euston station and approach tracks. HS2 Ltd has not yet finalised how much space it intends for office accommodation for HS2 operations.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byBaroness Sugg on 16 Nov (HL Deb, col 80GC), what target design coststhey haveset HS2Ltd; what are the comparable construction costs for HS2 Phases 1, 2A, and 2B; and how they intend to ensure that HS2 Ltd keep within the long-term funding envelope of £55.7 billion

baroness sugg: We are confident that HS2 will be delivered within budget, and HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport both have rigorous cost control measures in place to make sure this happens. The Department has set HS2 Ltd an overall target price for Phase One, and has embedded target prices within the procurement processes for each element of the railway to drive down costs and deliver value for money over the whole life of the project. Procurement exercises are currently underway, and target prices are therefore commercially sensitive. Releasing them would affect the tendering and bidding process and could worsen value for money achieved for the taxpayer. Benchmarked Target Design Costs for Phase Two and details of the latest cost estimate are set out in the Phase Two Financial Case, published in July 2017. These targets have been set at £55m/km for Phase 2a and £65m/km for Phase 2b. Achieving these targets will deliver the HS2 Phase Two programme well below the long-term funding envelope set at SR15.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byBaroness Sugg on 16 November (HL Deb, col 79GC), which companies have been invited to tender for the provision of independent assurance and examination of HS2 Ltd’s cost estimates; what is the scope of that work; and when contracts willbe awarded.

baroness sugg: HS2 Ltd’s cost estimates are subject to rigorous assurance processes, including external assurance and scrutiny prior to each major decision being taken on the HS2 programme. This could include, although is not limited to, testing the validity of HS2 Ltd’s cost estimation methodology or assumptions. External assurance has been procured multiple times and information on all companies invited to tender, scope of their work and dates of contracts award can only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Department for Transport has also procured the HS2 Project Representative to provide independent assurance of the HS2 programme, including on HS2 Ltd’s cost estimates. This is supplied by an independent team of experts from KPMG, Steer Davies Gleave and Nichols. This contract has been in place since November 2016.

Railways: Overcrowding

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have made to monitor the scale and incidence of substantial overcrowding on long distance trains.

baroness sugg: The Department for Transport collects data on passenger numbers from Train Operating Companies biannually. This data focusses on passenger loading on trains at city centres upon arrival in the morning peak and departure in the afternoon peak. The information is used to publish annual statistics for passenger crowding on weekdays within 11 key city centres in England and Wales. In addition, the Department requires franchisees to consider how the train fleet is matched with the timetable to minimise crowding. Passenger count data is frequently used by the Department to look at passenger demand and train capacities in order to monitor crowding levels throughout the life of a franchise and during the refranchising process.

Railways: Sheffield

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in preparation for the re-letting of the East Midlands Train franchise, what estimate they have made of the overall journey times for (1) a bi-mode train, and (2) an electric alternative, between London and Sheffield.

baroness sugg: In 2016 Atkins, on behalf of the Department for Transport, undertook analysis on the business case for electrification and other route enhancements of the Midland Main Line route from Bedford north to Corby, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield. A copy of this is in the House library; Chapter 3 (pp 17-24) has the required timings for those journeys.

Bus Services

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the powers available to local authorities to control congestion, in the light of reports that some bus companies are no longer buying new vehicles where there are inadequate bus priority measures.

baroness sugg: Her Majesty’s Government has made no specific assessment in light of these reports. Section 16 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 introduced a network management duty for local traffic authorities to manage their road networks with a view to “achieving, so far as may be reasonably practicable, the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority’s road network”. Local authorities have a range of powers and tools available, including bus priority measures, to manage congestion and are responsible for deciding which measures are appropriate for use on their roads.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they provide to local authorities about the safety aspects of filling pot holes; and whether any such guidance makes specific reference to the needs of cyclists.

baroness sugg: Advice about potholes is available to local highway authorities through the UK Roads Liaison Group Code of Practice, “Well Managed Highway Infrastructure”. This Code provides guidance to highway authorities on maintaining and managing their highways for all road users. The Code refers to other advice, including the Pothole Review report published in 2012, which provides guidance on areas including preventative maintenance and delivering “right first time” pothole repairs. This Report was endorsed by a number of organisations, including the Cyclists’ Touring Club, now Cycling UK and refers to the needs of cyclists when considering maintenance requirements. The Review report recommends that authorities consider the guidance provided in the ADEPT report, “Potholes and Repair Techniques for Local Highways” and adopt as appropriate to their local circumstances using a risk based approach which should take account of the need of cyclists.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether car tax evasion has increased since tax discs in cars were abolished; and what action they are planning to take in response.

baroness sugg: The vehicle excise duty evasion statistics 2017 estimated the rate of unlicensed vehicles in traffic in the UK to be 1.8%. Vehicle excise duty evasion was estimated to be 1.4% in the previous survey in 2015. In the last three years, there have been three significant changes in the way vehicle excise duty is administered. The tax disc was abolished in October 2014 and at the same time the ability to transfer vehicle excise duty when a vehicle is sold or transferred was removed. Earlier this year, significant changes were also made to the way vehicle excise duty is calculated for brand new cars and some motorhomes. However, more than 98% of vehicles on the road are properly licensed, meaning that the vast majority of drivers comply with their legal obligations. It has never been easier to license a vehicle online and motorists can also spread payments across the year using direct debit. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) collects around £6 billion in vehicle excise duty for HM Treasury each year. The DVLA operates a comprehensive package of measures to tackle vehicle excise duty evasion. These range from reminder letters and fixed penalties, through to court prosecutions and the wheel clamping or removal of unlicensed vehicles. The DVLA has increased the number of unlicensed vehicles it clamps or impounds to around 10,000 every month and will continue to take action against those who do not pay. This enforcement work means that a significant amount of the potential lost revenue is recovered – last year enforcement activities recouped £41 million. A major national advertising campaign has also recently been launched which targets vehicle excise duty evaders.

Taxis

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the case for audio and CCTV recording in taxi and private hire vehicles.

baroness sugg: Local licensing authorities can already require the installation of CCTV in all taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) and a number already do so. The Department for Transport has, however, considered the potential benefits to passengers and drivers of CCTV, with and without audio recording, to inform the Statutory Guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities that will be consulted on in the New Year. My Right Honourable Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, announced in a Westminster Hall debate that he would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing like this one. It will be reporting its findings in the new year, informing the consultation on Statutory Guidance.

Railways: Catering

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to encourage train operators who do not provide onboard catering to offer catering franchises to third parties.

baroness sugg: The Invitation to Tender incentivises bidders to deliver additional benefits for passengers over and above the set minimum requirements. This may include on-board catering service.

European Aviation Safety Agency

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for the UK to remain a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency.

baroness sugg: The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for continued or discontinued participation in the European Aviation Safety Agency. As part of the exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of aviation safety and standards.

Diesel Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the cost of implementing a national diesel scrappage scheme as a part of their plans to improve air quality.

baroness sugg: A national diesel scrappage scheme was considered as a policy option in the development of the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations. The cost of such a national scheme was estimated to be up to £60 billion. On 22 November we launched a consultation on additional measures to support individuals and businesses affected by local NO2 plans. Options considered include retrofitting vehicles, support for car clubs, vehicle scrappage or improved public transport offers.

Motorcycles: Testing

lord steel of aikwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they propose to apply the European directive on testing motorcycles in 2018, given that the directive is deferred to 2022; and whether they will reconsider that decision to allow more time to consult further with motorcycle producers, users, and clubs.

baroness sugg: In Great Britain, for road safety reasons, motorcycles are already included in the vehicle testing regime, despite this not being required by European rules until 2022. EU Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic technical inspections of vehicles makes a number of changes to roadworthiness testing requirements, which must be implemented by 20 May 2018. It updates some of the technical test standards, broadly reflecting developments in vehicle and testing technology and the regulatory environment, such as improved emissions standards. It is important that our roadworthiness testing requirements keep pace with improving vehicle standards. Alongside the changes required by the Directive by 20 May 2018, the Government has decided to apply the relevant technical changes to motorcycle testing because there are road safety and environmental benefits of doing so. There was a public consultation in 2016 about the changes.

Taxis: Disability

baroness deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement the recommendation, made by the Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability (Session 2015–16), to ensure that no taxi driver or private hire vehicle driver is licensed without having undertaken disability equality training; and whether they have any plans to introduce statutory guidance to that end.

baroness sugg: Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services must be accessible to those who rely upon them, and disability awareness training can be effective in equipping drivers with the skills and knowledge to provide all passengers with the assistance they require. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Accessibility Action Plan which will inform the updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities. It is the Department’s expectation that the guidance will include a recommendation that authorities should use their existing powers to require prospective drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training. There are however no existing powers to give this guidance statutory status. In addition, my Right Honourable Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, announced in a Westminster Hall debate that he would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing such as this and it will be reporting its findings in the New Year.

Bus Services: Disability

baroness deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan, in the Department for Transport Accessibility Action Plan, to confirm timescales for the publication of the Accessible Information Requirement regulations associated with the Bus Services Act 2017.

baroness deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the updated version of the Department for Transport Accessibility Action Plan addresses the recommendations of the Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability (Session 2015–16) regarding audio-visual announcements on buses.

baroness sugg: The Government’s consultation on the draft transport Accessibility Action Plan closed on Wednesday 22nd November. The final version will be published in 2018 and will set out the Government’s ambitions in this area based on the feedback provided. The final Plan will also set out the Government’s timescale for delivery.The Government remains committed to introducing an Accessible Information Requirement, expanding the provision of audible and visible information to local bus services across Great Britain, so helping passengers to travel with greater confidence.

Public Transport: Disability

baroness deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that the desired outcomes set out in the Department for Transport Accessibility Action Plan will be achieved within the timescales set out in the document.

baroness sugg: The Government is committed to delivering a transport system which works for all. The draft Accessibility Action Plan (AAP) was published in August for a three month consultation. The consultation is now closed and the Government is analysing the responses received. The final AAP will be published in 2018 and will set out the Government’s ambitions for this agenda based on the feedback provided. The final Plan will also set out the Government’s timescales for delivery.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Jagtar Singh Johal

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatreports they have received of a British Sikh, Jagtar Singh Johal, being tortured by the Punjab police; andwhat stepsthey are takingto provide consular support to him.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Consular staff in India were made aware of allegations of mistreatment through Mr Johal's legal representation. ​Consular staff have visited Mr Johal on several occassions and are in contact with his lawyer. We have met his family in the UK and will continue to update them. Our priority is to inquire about these specific allegations with Mr Johal in private. With his consent we will then raise any allegations made with the relevant authorities.

India: Detainees

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government what stepsthey are takingto ensure that the government of India is aware of its responsibility under international law to adhere to civilised standards in regard to the treatment of detainees.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The United Kingdom engages on human rights matters with India both bilaterally and through the EU. We work with the government of India, state governments and non-governmental organisations to build capacity, share expertise and promote human rights for all. We have also used India's Universal Periodic Review in the UN Human Rights Council to emphasise the importance of observing international legal responsibilities in regard to the treatment of detainees in prison. As a party to the International Convention on Civil and Political rights, we look to India to adhere to the principles of Article 7 - prohibiting torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. India has also committed to ratify the Convention against Torture and we urge that this is done swiftlyThe ​Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis discussed a prison conditions inspection visit in relation to extradition cases when he was in India earlier this month.

Jagtar Singh Johal

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have verified the reported mistreatment of Jagtar Singh Johal; whether they intend to take any action to ensure that the Indian authorities are held to account; and if so, what.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes all allegations or concerns of mistreatment very seriously. Our priority is to inquire about these specific allegations with Mr Johal in private. With his consent we will then raise any allegations made with the relevant authorities. When considering how to act, we will avoid any action that might put the individual in question or any other person that may be affected at risk.​​

India: Sikhs

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of India about the treatment of Sikh activists.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commissions across India, including the Deputy High Commission in Chandigarh which covers the Punjab, maintain a continuous assessment of the human rights situation in India and engage regularly with the Indian National Commission for Minorities. FCO officials also regularly meet senior faith leaders (including Sikhs) and the British Government funds a number of projects in India to help promote minority rights and combat discrimination.During his visit to the UK in November 2015, Prime Minister Modi assured the UK that his government remained committed to protecting diversity and fundamental freedoms.​

Cameroon: Human Rights

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, what assessment they have made of the report by the UN Commission on Human Rights on Cameroon, published on 10 November, which called on the government of Cameroon to ensure equal treatment of the English-speaking minority, guaranteeing their rights for expression and assembly, and which statedthat the English-speaking population in Cameroon is discriminated against in access to employment and political rights.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The High Commissioner in Yaoundé has been following events in the Anglophone regions closely and has actively raised the need for dialogue and restraint with the Cameroonian authorities, including their obligations under international law in respect to human rights. We continue to call for restraint, for all parties to reject violence, pursue dialogue and urgently take action to reduce tensions.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take following reports that Israel intends to expand its settlements in East Jerusalem in contravention of international law.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are gravely concerned by the acceleration of illegal settlement expansion this year, including in East Jerusalem. When the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Netanyahu on 2 November 2017, she reiterated the UK’s firm commitment to a two-state solution as the best way to bring about stability and peace to the region, and our continued opposition to settlement activity. The Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, issued a statement on 7 July 2017 strongly condemning the Israeli authorities’ decisions on 4 and 6 July to advance plans for 1,600 new settlement units in the illegal settlements of Pisgat Ze’ev, Ramat Shlomo, and Ramot in East Jerusalem.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel following reports that the Israeli army has ordered the eviction of 300 Palestinians from their homes in the northern Jordan Valley.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, the UK considers that evictions, in all but the most exceptional circumstances, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law and cause unnecessary suffering. The trajectory of increasing evictions and settlements undermines the prospects for peace.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel followingthe publication of figures by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that show an increase in demolitions and displacements in the West Bank.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are gravely concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by the Israeli authorities. Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; call into question Israel’s commitment to a viable two-state solution; and, in all but the most exceptional cases, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. Our embassy in Tel Aviv, along with European partners, most recently raised our grave concerns about demolitions with the Israeli authorities in a joint demarche on 2 November 2017.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

House of Lords: Game

lord mancroft: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the House of Lords' catering service will increase the amount of game meat on offer during Great British Game Week.

lord laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.The House of Lords Catering and Retail Services (CRS) did not increase the amount of game meat on offer during Great British Game Week (20-26 November 2017). While CRS often looks to tie in with such promotions, it did not do so on this occasion; this opportunity will be considered for next year.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Leprosy

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department for International Development has provided assistance to countries where leprosy is prevalent (1) to train staff in leprosy detection and treatment, (2) to increase public awareness of leprosy and access to treatment, and (3) to promote stigma reduction, including the repeal of discriminatory legislation and improvedprovision of mental health support.

lord bates: DFID funds civil society organisations such as the Leprosy Mission for England and Wales and LEPRA to diagnose, treat and support those afflicted with leprosy. Funded projects have targeted stigma and discrimination. DFID also works to strengthen health systems, which helps countries to prevent and treat causes of ill health, including leprosy.

Yemen: Military Intervention

baroness helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the humanitarian impact of the Saudi-led blockade of Yemen; whether they are supporting the actions of the coalition in Yemen; and if so, what form that support takes.

lord bates: The UK is deeply concerned by the serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen. Even before the Saudi-led Coalition recently announced the temporary closure of all sea, land and air routes into Yemen, the country was the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with 21 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The Coalition has since announced the reopening of ports and airports in areas controlled by the Government of Yemen, but these remain closed in areas not under government control - where 71% of Yemenis in severe humanitarian need live.While the UK remains committed to supporting Saudi Arabia to address its legitimate security needs, it is absolutely vital that Yemen is kept open to humanitarian access and commercial supplies and personnel, upon which the Yemeni population depend. We are raising the importance of these points at the highest levels.The UK continues to play a leading role in lobbying all sides to find a peaceful solution. As the pen-holder on Yemen at the UN Security Council the UK proposed and coordinated a UN Security Council Presidential Statement in June calling for an end to the conflict and the resumption of peace talks. The UK has since been pushing for a revived political process.

UNRWA: Finance

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding was given to the UN Relief and Works Agency in (1) 2015, (2)2016, and (3) 2017; and how much is proposed for 2018.

lord bates: Data for DFID’s funding to multilaterals, including the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), is available in the Statistics for International Development (SID) publication. The figures for 2016 have just been released. Those for 2017 will be released next year. Allocations for future years will be confirmed in due course.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Food Aid

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) bilaterally, and (2) internationally, to safeguard the children of the Kasai region of the Congo from dying from starvation; and what steps they aretaking to ensure that the funds of the World Food Programme are adequate to support work in that region.

lord bates: My colleague, the Minister for Africa, Rory Stewart visited Kasai Central, in the DRC, in November 2017 to see for himself the impact of the conflict. 294,000 children are at risk of dying from malnutrition. UK bilateral aid is already supporting 25,800 children with lifesaving assistance. Over the next 5 years we will support a further 220,000 children under the age of 5 with vital nutrition. We support the World Food Programme (WFP) operated humanitarian air service ensuring that vital aid is delivered to those in need. However, the humanitarian appeal in DRC remains chronically underfunded. This needs an urgent international response and the UK Government is actively lobbying the international community to increase its response to this forgotten crisis.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Food Aid

lord luce: To ask Her Majesty's Government what humanitarian assistance they are giving to support those suffering from starvation in the Kasai region of Congo.

lord bates: The Minister for Africa visited Kasai Central, in the DRC, in November 2017 to see for himself the impact of the conflict. UK bilateral aid is already supporting 25,800 children with food assistance in the Kasais. Over the next 5 years the UK will be providing a range of humanitarian support. As part of this, we will support a further 840,000 people nationally with food assistance, including people in the Kasais.

Department for Education

Apprentices

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average cost of delivering a manufacturing and engineering apprenticeship for each level.

lord agnew of oulton: The cost of individual apprenticeships will depend on the price agreed by employers and apprenticeship providers. Details of funding bands for apprenticeship standards and frameworks, approved for delivery for starts from May 2017 (attached) can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-bands. The funding bands limit the amount that the government will contribute towards the costs of training and assessment.



Apprenticeship Standards Approved for Delivery 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 78.31 KB)




Apprenticeship Framework Funding Bands
(Excel SpreadSheet, 157.84 KB)

Apprentices: Taxation

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of Apprenticeship Levy paying employers are registered on the Digital Apprenticeship Service.

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government when non-Apprenticeship Levy paying employers will be able to register on the Digital Apprenticeship Service.

lord agnew of oulton: Details of the number of accounts registered on the apprenticeship service can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-education-and-skills-statistical-first-release-sfr#apprenticeship-service-statistics. We plan to allow levy-paying employers to transfer funds to other employers from April 2018. Non-levy payers who intend to receive and spend funds transferred to them will be able to register on the apprenticeship service from April 2018. We plan that all non-levy payers will use the apprenticeship service from April 2019 to manage their apprenticeships. We will set out when they will be able to register for an account in due course.

Apprentices: Taxation

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the devolved administrations concerning communications with employers operating in more than one country in the UK as to how those employers intend to spend funds received from the Apprenticeship Levy.

lord agnew of oulton: Responsibility for skills is a devolved matter and each administration has its own arrangements for apprenticeships and use of the apprenticeship levy funds, including how this is communicated to employers. Officials from all the devolved administrations meet regularly to ensure apprenticeship funding is accessible to employers across the UK.

Schools: Asbestos

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Written Answer byLord Agnew of Oulton on 20 November (HL2884), whether they plan to collect, and publish annually, data on the number of deaths of (1) teachers, (2) students, and (3) others, who may have contracted mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases while in school buildings, in order to enable an evaluation of the effectiveness of their asbestos registry.

lord agnew of oulton: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) collect data on asbestos-related deaths, which is published (attached) on their website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1617.pdf. The data in respect of deaths by occupation is published routinely as part of the HSE’s annual National Statistics (attached) at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/mesothelioma/mortality-by-occupation-2002-2010.pdf. The ‘Mesothelioma Register’ is managed by the HSE. It contains information extracted from death certificate information supplied by the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland. In addition, the department is committed to supporting schools, local councils and academy trusts to fulfil their duty to manage asbestos safely. The department has published refreshed guidance for schools to help them meet their duties on asbestos management (attached) at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-management-in-schools--2. The department is enhancing scrutiny on duty holders for managing asbestos in their schools by asking all responsible bodies to provide assurance on their schools’ compliance with associated legislation and guidance. In addition, we are looking at ways to improve our evidence base by working with HSE and other experts. The department is continuing to fund the removal of asbestos, where appropriate, directly and indirectly through its funding programmes and is encouraging more academies to join the Risk Protection Arrangement, which requires schools to manage their asbestos related risks. I have placed a copy in the House Library and it is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academies-risk-protection-arrangement-rpa.



Mesothelioma Occupation Statistics
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Managing Asbestos in Your School
(PDF Document, 1.05 MB)




Health and Saftey at Work
(PDF Document, 372.08 KB)

Special Educational Needs

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Education, Health and Care Plans: our first 100 investigations,and in particular, of the recommendations concerning good practice for councils.

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission Local Area SEND inspections: one year on, and in particular, the common areas of significant concern listen in that report.

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of each of the funding streams to support implementation of Special Educational Needs and Disability reforms as listed by the Council for Disabled Children in its July Digest.

lord agnew of oulton: As set out in the Council for Disabled Children’s digest, the government has provided significant resources to support implementation of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms. This includes £223 million to local councils between April 2014 and March 2018 and, during the same period, £60 million for around 1,200 Independent Supporters to help families with the Education Health and Care (EHC) plan process.  We have also funded training and a SEND leadership programme to support local councils and health services deliver their SEND services and a school improvement programme to further embed good SEND practice in schools. This includes a ‘what works’ resource, drawing on evidence-based practice on SEND in good and outstanding schools and colleges, published earlier this month. These resources, among a wide range of others, can be found at: http://www.sendgateway.org.uk and https://send.excellencegateway.org.uk. We gather intelligence from a wide range of sources to understand where services are working well, where they could do better, and to focus our resources on where we can make a difference. This includes activity the government funds, surveys, research and inspections, feedback from our team of professional SEND advisers (who work directly with local councils to improve the delivery of services) performance information and feedback from lead tribunal judges and parents. We welcome the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s report, published on 23 October 2017. We are beginning to see some very positive feedback from parents and young people. A large-scale survey of over 13,000 families who gained an EHC plan in 2015 found that two thirds of those families were satisfied with the overall experience of getting a plan, and three-fifths agreed the help and support set out in the plan would achieve the desired outcomes. The Inspection report from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which looks at SEND in local areas, also identifies that many areas have strengths with aspects of services. For example, in North Yorkshire, inspectors found a “large majority of EHC plans evaluated by inspectors were strong and effectively supported the progress of children and young people.” Where local area performance is a particular concern, departmental officials working closely with partners, including NHS England, have engaged with local areas to provide support and challenge, and have seen a proactive and positive response. On the specific finding on the exclusion of pupils, we are also clear that any decision to exclude should be lawful, reasonable and fair. As announced by the Prime Minister, the Department for Education will take forward an external review of exclusions practice, focused on the experiences of those groups who are disproportionately likely to be excluded.

Social Services: Children

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any evaluation has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of the Partners in Practice programme in improving local authority children’s services.

lord agnew of oulton: The Partners in Practice are a key part of this government’s efforts to improve practice across the children’s social care system and deliver better outcomes for children and families. The Partners in Practice are driving improvement by providing high quality support to those local councils who need it most. They are also developing and testing innovative approaches to supporting children and families, and sharing learning and best practice across the sector.Building a robust evidence base is central to the programme and the Partners in Practice are all subject to detailed independent evaluation. Interim evaluation reports will be published in early 2019, with final reports due to be published in mid-2020. The Partners in Practice are also actively sharing live learning and best practice through conferences, workshops, study visits, guides and toolkits.

Equality

baroness primarolo: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Nash on 18 September (HL1398), what plans they have to review which activities outside Great Britain may be in scope of the Equality Act 2010.

lord agnew of oulton: As stated in my previous answer, some employer activities outside Great Britain may fall within the scope of the Equality Act 2010, but this will depend on whether, in any given case, the employment relationship is found to have a strong connection with Great Britain, and the Government has no plans to review the matter.

Ministry of Justice

Family Law: Muslims

lord lester of herne hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 9 November (HL2598), what steps they are taking, if any, to improve the protection of British Muslim women in family law.

lord keen of elie: The Government continues to study the evidence, to assess options for improving protections for Muslim women on the breakdown of a marriage that is not legally recognised.

Prisons: Ministers of Religion

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey havemade ofthe compatibility withequality and human rights legislationof section 7 of the Prison Act 1952, which mandates that every prison must employ a clergyman from the Church of England to fulfil its chaplain position before members of other religions or beliefs can be considered for employment.

lord keen of elie: All prisons have multi faith chaplaincy teams to provide religious and pastoral support to prisoners. Chaplaincy provision reflects the faith/denominational requirements of the prison and prisons appoint chaplains on the basis of need, which will include a Church of England Chaplain. Church of England Chaplains are appointed under section 7 of the Prison Act 1952, and other Prison Chaplains under section 10 of the Prison Act. We believe that the provisions on prisoner religion in the Prison Act 1952 and the Prison Rules 1999 are compatible with Articles 9 and 12 of the ECHR, and therefore we believe that HMPPS meets its obligation under the Human Rights Act 1998 to act compatibly with convention rights. These provisions are also in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, in avoiding discrimination on grounds of religion, whether directly or indirectly. Where new prisons open, the aim is to have a fully functioning multi faith chaplaincy team appointed before the prison becomes operational.

Prison Sentences

lord marks of henley-on-thames: To ask Her Majesty's Government, of those in prison in England and Wales on 25 December 2016, how many were serving sentences of less than a year.

lord marks of henley-on-thames: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners currently in prison in England and Wales areserving sentences of a year or less; and of these, how many prisoners are expected to still be serving their sentence on 25 December.

lord keen of elie: Prison population data is published on an end of month basis. The prison population for those serving a sentence of less than a year on 31 December 2016 was 5,954. This information is contained in Offender Management Statistics Quarterly (OMSQ), Table 1.1, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/654646/prison-population-30-september-2017.xlsxAs at 30 September 2017, there were 6,141 prisoners serving sentences of less than a year; of whom, 624 had a release date on, or after, the 27 December 2017 and would therefore normally be serving their sentence in custody on 25 December. 



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 42.99 KB)

Custodial Treatment: Private Sector

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many adverse reportsthey havereceivedon the management of custodial institutions by(1) G4S, (2) Sodexo, and (3) other private providers, since 2010.

lord keen of elie: Without a definition to determine the threshold of an ‘adverse’ report, it is difficult to definitively answer the question as posed, however reports on privately managed custodial institutions are published online. In common with public sector custodial institutions, privately-managed institutions are inspected by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. Their reports are published online and are available to read here: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/ Privately-managed prisons and immigration removal centres are also subject to scrutiny by Independent Monitoring Boards, in line with their public sector equivalents. Their role is to monitor the day-to-day life in their local prison or removal centre and ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained. The Board at each prison publish an annual report, available to read here: https://www.imb.org.uk/reports/ We robustly manage private providers to ensure that they put in place and prioritise actions to address any recommendations made in the reports, and that progress is made to achieve these actions.

Prisons: Mobile Phones

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmenttheyhavemade of the practicality of jamming illegal mobile phones in HM Prisons.

lord keen of elie: The illicit use of mobile phones undermines the safety and security of our prisons. We are taking urgent and decisive action to tackle this threat including detection dogs, body scanners and intelligence-led searches. Fixed mobile phone blocking technology is already used across the prison estate, and is effective at prejudicing mobile phone signals transmitted on 2G, 3G and 4G frequency bands. We are also working with mobile network operators to deliver ground-breaking technology to further improve our ability to stop mobiles smuggled into prisons from working. The Government is supporting Maria Caulfield MP’s Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Bill, which would give the Secretary of State the power to authorise mobile network operators to interfere with wireless telegraphy for the purpose of preventing, detecting, or investigating the use of mobile phones in prisons. This will enable them to become more directly involved in combatting the problems caused by illicit phone use in prison. Alongside blocking technology, we have invested £2 million into detection equipment, including hand-held detectors and portable detection devices.

Civil Proceedings: Jurisdiction

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the call in the report by the House of Lords Justice Sub-Committee of the Select Committee on the EU Brexit: justice for families, individualsand businesses? (7th Report, Session 2016–17, HL Paper 134) for them to publish a coherent plan for addressing the post-Brexit application of the so-called Brussels regime.

lord keen of elie: The Government published its future partnership paper on cross-border civil judicial cooperation on 22 August 2017. This set out that an effective framework of civil judicial cooperation is an important part of the deep and special partnership we want to establish with the EU. The Government will therefore seek an agreement with the EU that allows for close and comprehensive cross-border civil judicial cooperation on a reciprocal basis, which reflects closely the substantive principles of cooperation under the current EU framework. The paper also set out our intention to continue participation in those Hague Conventions we currently participate in by virtue of our membership of the EU, and to continue to participate in the Lugano Convention that, by virtue of our membership of the EU, forms the basis for the UK’s civil judicial cooperation with Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Religion

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many armed service personnel in(1) the army, (2) the Royal Navy, (3) theRoyal Marines, (4) the Royal Air Force, and (5) the reserves in each of those forces, are recorded as being (a) Buddhist, (b) Hindu, (c) Jewish, (d) Muslim, (e) Sikh, or (f) of any other non-Christian religion.

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many armed service personnel in(1) the army, (2) the Royal Navy, (3) theRoyal Marines, (4) the Royal Air Force, and (5) the reserves in each of those forces, are recorded as being members of (a) the Church of England, Anglican, or Episcopal churches, (b) the Roman Catholic Church, (c) the Presbyterian Church, (d) the Church of Scotland, (e) the Baptist Church, (f) the Salvation Army, (g) Free Churches, (h) the Methodist Church, (i) the United Reformed Church, (j) the Free Presbyterian Church, (k) the Greek Orthodox Church, and (l) other Christian churches.

earl howe: The Ministry of Defence publishes Biannual Diversity Statistics, the latest of which provides information as at 1 April 2017 and can be found on the Government website at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/ statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-2017. These statistics include a breakdown, by Service, of the numbers of Armed Forces personnel by self-declared religion. Tables 4 and 17 provide a detailed breakdown for, respectively, UK Regulars and the Future Reserves 2020 population. The requested information for the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marines (RM), the Army and the RAF, as at 1 April 2017, is provided below: RN and RMArmyRAFTotalBuddhist4069050780 Christian22,32062,82023,630108,770 Christian Tradition609050210 Hindu201,080401,140 Judaism10501080 Muslim4044050530 Sikh1014020170 Other Religions190500170870 No Religion9,82017,7408,98036,530 Unknown2010260290  Reserve Service Personnel by Religion RN and RMArmyRAFTotalBuddhist10801090 Christian2,43022,2901,53026,240 Christian Tradition10601080 Hindu1017010180 Judaism~30~40 Muslim1016010170 Sikh~50~60 Other Religions5017030240 No Religion8106,8004908,110 Unknown2301406401,010 Regular Service Personnel of Christian and Christian Tradition faith split by denomination RNRMArmyRAFTotal  Church of England Scottish Episcopal Church10,4902,87036,59015,24065,200  10~301050  Roman Catholic2,6106709,1403,15015,570  Presbyterian9020200110420  Church of Scotland9301603,3701,2905,760  Baptist8020360150600  Salvation Army1010602090  Free Church of Scotland United Free Church of Scotland10~101030   ~~~~10  Methodist420701,7606202,870  United Reformed Church20~5040100  Free Presbyterian101079010800  Greek Orthodox~~10~20  Other Christian churches2,7501,12010,5503,04017,460  Reserve Service Personnel of Christian and Christian Tradition faith split by denomination  RNRMArmyRAFTotal  Church of England1,10027012,13099014,490  Scottish Episcopal Church~~30~30  Roman Catholic2601003,5001904,050  Presbyterian20~12010150  Church of Scotland130301,6001001,850  Baptist10~17010190  Salvation Army~~20~20  Free Church of Scotland10~10~20  United Free Church of Scotland~~~~~  Methodist601053040630  United Reformed Church~~20~30  Free Presbyterian~~510~510  Greek Orthodox~~10~10  Other Christian churches3201303,6902004,340Note: ‘Christian’ includes personnel declaring the following on Joint Personnel Administration (JPA): Christian Tradition, Christian Scientist, Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), Jehovah's Witness, Unitarian and Other Christian Tradition.‘Other Religions’ includes personnel declaring the following on Joint Personnel Administration (JPA): Druid, Pagan, Rastafarian, Spiritualist, Zoroastrian (Parsee), Wicca, Baha'i and Other Religions.‘Unknown’ includes those with an unrecorded religion and those who choose not to declare.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, although numbers ending in a 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards. For example; a value of 25 would be rounded down to 20 and a value of 15 would be rounded up to 20. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. Declaration of religion is not mandatory for Armed Forces personnel. These statistics only relate to personnel who have made a declaration. At 1 April 2017, the proportion of personnel who had made a declaration was 99.8 per cent of UK Regular Forces, and 97.2 per cent of Future Reserves 2020. 



HL335 and HL3352
(Word Document, 26.93 KB)

Frigates: Procurement

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sufficiency of the management and technical resources within the Ministry of Defence to manage both the Type 26 and Type 31a programmes at the same time; and how many (1) Defence Equipment and Support, and (2) Royal Navy, staff they estimate will be needed to manage each of those programmes at their peaks.

earl howe: The Ministry of Defence is satisfied with the number of people and balance of capability dedicated to each programme, in both Navy Command and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and has a plan to increase those resources to respond to the needs of both the Type 26 and Type 31e programmes in the future.The transformation of DE&S has introduced a balanced matrix management structure, which allows specialist resources to be deployed more easily to meet the demands of equipment procurement projects.

Type 45 Destroyers

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff worked on the Type 45 Integrated Project Team; what was the average number of staff working on that team at any one time; and what was the maximum number.

earl howe: At the start of the Type 45 destroyer procurement programme in 2000, the Project Team comprised approximately 44 members of staff. The team grew to its peak in 2006, when the numbers had increased to approximately 110 people. By 2014, when the build of the ships was complete, this number had reduced to a minimal skeleton staff.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether future Fleet Support Ships will be built in yards in the UK; and if so where.

earl howe: As set out in the National Shipbuilding Strategy, procurement of naval support ships, such as the Fleet Solid Support ships, will be by international competition to ensure maximum value for money for the UK taxpayer. UK shipyards are encouraged to engage in the competitive process.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total exchange rate contingency for the new Joint Strike Fighters for which orders have already been placed.

earl howe: For the UK F-35 Lightning Programme our cost approvals include some provision to address foreign exchange rate risks. Depending on the stage of the programme, the senior responsible owner and the project team will manage an appropriate risk contingency of 5-10 per cent, which is dynamically managed and proportionate to the risks at that time. This will continue to be monitored and prioritised as necessary in accordance with the overall departmental position.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government with whom they have negotiated (1) the price, and (2) delivery, for the new Joint Strike Fighters.

earl howe: On behalf of all the F-35 partner nations, the United States Joint Program Office negotiates the price and delivery targets for all F-35 aircraft with its suppliers. The UK, in turn, discusses its own F-35 delivery dates with the Joint Program Office.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the support costs for the new Joint Strike Fighters for each year from 2017 to 2024, broken down by the number of fighters in service in each year.

earl howe: Support for the F-35 Lightning aircraft will be undertaken as part of the Global Support Solution. This is still being defined. It is therefore not possible to break down the cost into the format which the noble Lord has requested.

Cyprus: Military Bases

lord sharkey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 November (HL3241), why the number of Greek Cypriots employed in the Eastern Sovereign Base Area in Grades 7–8 rose from 65 in 2016 to 165 in 2017 and why there was no rise in the number of Turkish Cypriots employed in these grades in the same period.

earl howe: I regret that the answer provided on 24 November 2017 to Question number HL3241 contained two typographical errors. The number of Greek Cypriots employed in the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA) at Grades 7-8 in 2017 should have been 65 instead of 165. Therefore, no increase in the number of Greek Cypriots in these grades took place between 2016 and 2017 in the ESBA. The number of Greek Cypriots employed in the Western Sovereign Base Area (WSBA) at Grades 5-6 in 2015 should have been 70 instead of 30. Therefore, the number of Greek Cypriots at Grades 5-6 decreased slightly between 2015 and 2017 in the WSBA. The correct figures are provided below.  2017ESBAESBAWSBAWSBAGreek / Turkish CypriotGCTCGCTCGrade 11 - 1250100Grade 9 - 10135752450Grade 7 - 865151350Grade 5 - 6355650Grade 3 - 41510650Grade 1 - 2551002016ESBAESBAWSBAWSBAGreek / Turkish CypriotGCTCGCTCGrade 11 - 1250100Grade 9 - 10140752450Grade 7 - 865151350Grade 5 - 63510700Grade 3 - 41510650Grade 1 - 255100  2015ESBAESBAWSBAWSBAGreek / Turkish CypriotGCTCGCTCGrade 11 - 1250100Grade 9 - 10130702400Grade 7 - 865151300Grade 5 - 63510700Grade 3 - 41510600Grade 1 - 2551002014ESBAESBAWSBAWSBAGreek / Turkish CypriotGCTCGCTCGrade 11 - 1250100Grade 9 - 10135752550Grade 7 - 865151300Grade 5 - 63510750Grade 3 - 42010700Grade 1 - 255150  2013ESBAESBAWSBAWSBAGreek / Turkish CypriotGCTCGCTCGrade 11 - 1250100Grade 9 - 10140752500Grade 7 - 865151300Grade 5 - 64010750Grade 3 - 42010750Grade 1 - 255150 Note:The statistics provided for Cypriot employees based in both the Eastern Sovereign Base Area and Western Sovereign Base Area are based on the current Sovereign Base Area Administration and British Forces Cyprus pay banding scales. The figures given are rounded to the nearest 5.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Disqualification

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) individuals, and (2) households, are currently subject to sanctions for acts or omissions related to Universal Credit.

baroness buscombe: The latest published statistics show that in March 2017, there were 33,357 people on Universal Credit (UC) with a sanction deduction.The information requested for the number of households is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.Source:DWP Universal Credit Sanctions Official Statistics DatabaseNotes:Figures cover all of UC, both live and full service.Figures for March 2017 relate to the second Thursday of the month.People on UC may receive deductions from their award as a result of a sanction. These statistics include those sanctions which subsequently go on to be overturned. They are counted up to and including the last month which a deduction is taken. Claimants whose sanction is overturned will be repaid any deduction.The number of sanctions will be different under UC compared to Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) as they relate to two different benefits with different conditionality regimes. For example, under UC, if a claimant fails to attend a work-focused interview without good reason, they will be classed as having been sanctioned. Under JSA, if a claimant fails to attend a work-focused interview and does not make contact within five days, their claim is terminated and no sanction is applied.This information is Published via the gov.uk website

Universal Credit: Ethnic Groups

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they propose to handle specific problems arising from Universal Credit for Black and Ethnic Minority people arising from existing poverty, digital exclusion, language difficulties, or family size.

baroness buscombe: Work is the best way out of poverty and Universal Credit is strengthening incentives for people to move into and progress in work. Research shows that in Universal Credit, people are going into work faster and spending more time looking for work than under the old system. The Black and Ethnic Minority employment rate is currently the highest since the series began (64.7%) but the Race Disparity Audit shows us there is more to be done. In response, we have identified key areas where we want to work in partnership with other public services and the voluntary sector to test out interventions to help overcome the barriers to employment faced by different ethnic groups. We recognise that some people will need help with on-line claims and activity. People without digital skills will be offered support in jobcentres to make and manage their claims on-line, and also to acquire or improve core digital skills. Our work coaches have the flexibility to tailor support for individuals in difficult circumstances; they can adjust their work search requirements and conditionality to allow them to prioritise solutions to their issues. DWP has also rolled out the Universal Support initiative alongside the national roll out of Universal Credit, as part of which Local Authorities deliver both digital and budgeting support. It is DWP policy to use an interpreter when we need to communicate with a customer who cannot communicate adequately in English (or, in Wales, Welsh) and would otherwise be unable to conduct business with them, and clear guidance on this is available to all staff. To allow us to communicate with customers unable to speak English we can make use of a customer’s own interpreter, a local community based interpreting service, telephone interpretation service or a contracted face to face interpretation service. In addition, where there is a need to do so, we are also able to translate correspondence into foreign languages. Work Coaches are also aware of the local and national provision in their area and will support the claimant to find suitable provision to work towards removing communicating in English as a barrier towards work. In introducing the provision of support for a maximum of two children we recognise that some claimants are not able to make choices about the number of children in their family. That is why exceptions have been put in place to protect certain groups. We believe this policy strikes the right balance between protecting the vulnerable and encouraging families who receive benefits to make the same financial decisions as those families who support themselves solely through work. The Government has assessed the impact of the policy from an equality and human rights perspective throughout its development and in its implementation, thus meeting its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty and ensuring compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 and other international law obligations.

Universal Credit

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of criticisms made by voluntary organisations of Universal Credit, in particular (1) the combined effects of fewer welfare access points, (2) reductions in other benefits, and (3) problems inherent in Universal Credit.

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the impact of Universal Credit on rent arrears, evictions, and heavier indebtedness among those with rent and fuel problems.

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what actions and improvements, new or continuing, they intend to take following the debate on 16 November on Universal Credit (HL Deb, cols 2127–73).

baroness buscombe: At the Budget the Chancellor announced a number of further improvements to Universal Credit which will be delivered over the next few months. This package of measures responds to concerns raised around the first assessment period and the budgeting issues faced by some claimants at the start of their claim. Since the Chancellor’s budget statement, we are making Universal Credit advances more generous in three key ways. From January 2018 claimants who require support can now get an advance of up to 100 per cent of their estimated monthly entitlement while they wait for their first payment. Effectively, this removes the wait until their first payment altogether, going beyond what has been called for in Parliament and by external commentators. From January 2018 claimants can pay back their advances over 12 months, instead of the current six month period, making it easier for claimants to manage their finances. From spring 2018 claimants will also be able to apply for their advance online, making it even easier for claimants to receive the support they need. From February 2018, the seven day waiting period will be removed for all new Universal Credit claimants; this means that no claimant should wait longer than five weeks to receive their first monthly Universal Credit payment. From April 2018, all claimants already receiving Housing Benefit will receive two weeks’ worth of additional Housing Benefit payments at the beginning of their Universal Credit claim. This is in addition to Universal Credit support for housing costs and will help reduce the issue of rent arrears whilst claimants transition to monthly payments of Universal Credit. From April 2018, for claimants in temporary accommodation, local authorities will be able to recoup more of their temporary accommodation costs in UC areas directly from DWP, which will allow them to continue to offer valuable support to the most vulnerable. From December 2017, there will be new guidance so that Private Rented Sector claimants, who already have their Housing Benefit paid directly to landlords, are offered this option when they join Universal Credit, provided the relevant criteria continue to be met. Throughout rollout, we will ensure that partnership working is fundamental to the successful implementation of Universal Credit. We are exploring with Citizen’s Advice and Citizen’s Advice Scotland the scope for greater collaborative working to help claimants locally as they move to Universal Credit, within the Universal Support framework. In addition, we must remember that Universal Credit is primarily aimed at supporting those out of work to move into work, and once in work, to progress and increase their earnings. That is why in addition to these measures, the government has allocated £8m over four years to conduct a suite of tests and trials to support development of the evidence about what works to help people progress in work. This is a comprehensive and wide ranging package which ensures that claimants either receive more or earlier access to their benefits than previously.

Employment: Disability

lord touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the consultation on their Green Paper Work, Health and Disability: Improving Lives, published in October 2016, what timescale they have established for halving the disability employment gap.

baroness buscombe: The Government is committed to improving employment outcomes for disabled people. We have underpinned this with our manifesto pledge to see one million more disabled people in employment in the next 10 years. We will shortly publish a document which will provide an update on the work we have been doing since the Green Paper consultation, respond to the consultation, and set out our next steps.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dogs: Smuggling

baroness redfern: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prosecutions for trafficking of puppies have taken place in the past 12 months; and whether they plan to introduce any new measures to address such trafficking.

lord gardiner of kimble: We take the issue of the trafficking of puppies seriously. The Animal and Plant Health Agency is working in partnership with Dogs Trust, enforcement bodies and transport carriers to identify non-compliant animals destined for Dover and Folkestone ports. This partnership began in December 2015 and has resulted in over 650 puppies being seized and placed into quarantine. Should APHA checks identify that a dog has been imported, but is not compliant with the import rules, the relevant local authority is informed. Local authorities are responsible for taking enforcement action when puppies and dogs are discovered to be non-compliant with importation rules. Details of prosecutions in 2016 are reported in the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s ‘Return of expenditure incurred and prosecutions taken under the Animal Health Act 1981 and incidences of disease in imported animals for the year 2016’. In 2016 there were five prosecutions for the illegal importation or landing of dogs under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 and The Trade in Animals and Regulated Products Regulations. It is also important to recognise the illegal trafficking of dogs is ultimately driven by demand. Defra has published guidance on buying a pet. This guidance contains guidelines to follow when buying a dog such as buying from a reputable supplier and viewing the animal and its documentation, and also highlights the trade in illegal imports. Defra also works closely with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group to drive up standards for online advertisements and make potential pet owners and website operators more aware of rogue dealers.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the adequacy of the provisions of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the adequacy of the provisions of the Mobile Homes Act 1983.

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the adequacy of the provisions of the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Mobile Homes Act 2013 amended the site licensing provisions in the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. The Mobile Homes Act 2013 also amended the provisions in the Mobile Homes Act 1983 relating to selling of homes, making site rules and reviewing pitch fees and amended section 3 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 to make it easier for local authorities to prosecute in harassment cases.The Government is reviewing how effective the changes introduced by the Mobile Homes Act 2013 have been.A summary of responses to part 1 is at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-park-homes-legislation-call-for-evidenceA copy of the Call for Evidence part 2 published on 28 November is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662133/Park_homes_-_Call_for_evidence_Part_2.pdf  



Summary of responses to part 1
(PDF Document, 529.73 KB)




Call for Evidence Part 2
(PDF Document, 395.96 KB)

Change of Use

baroness byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government for how long buildings and workshops with planning permission for light industrial use must be (1) in existence, and (2) used for such purposes, before they may be converted for residential use.

baroness byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to issue planning authorities with guidance on whether applications for permission to construct light industrial buildings or workshops should be considered in the light of the possibility of a later application for change of use to residential purposes.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Local planning authorities are required to determine planning applications for development in accordance with their Local Plan, national policy and other material considerations.The temporary national permitted development right for the change of use of light industrial buildings to residential use requires the building to have been in light industrial use on 19 March 2014, and if not in use on that date for light industry to have been the last use. There are no requirements in respect of how long the building must have been in that use. The right does not apply to buildings whose use for light industrial use commenced after 19 March 2014.

HM Treasury

Apprentices: Taxation

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many eligible Apprenticeship Levy paying employers there are; and of those, how many are(1) single entity companies, and (2) connected companies.

lord fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many small and medium sized businesses are paying the Apprenticeship Levy because they are defined as a connected company.

lord bates: The 2016 Department for Education release ‘Information on Apprenticeship Levy’ showed that an estimated 19,150 employers are expected to pay the Apprenticeship Levy. The document also gives a breakdown of the number of employers paying the levy by size: Employer sizeTotal number of employersNumber of employers paying the levyProportion paying the levyLevy Paid0-491,444,3004100.0%£5m50-24948,0508,12016.9%£90m250+13,03010,62081.5%£2,585mTotal1,505,38019,1501.3%£2,675m A breakdown by connected companies or single entitles is not available. Employers are not required to report this data to HMRC routinely when accounting for their levy liability as part of their PAYE returns.

Tax Evasion

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many referrals of (1) individuals, and (2) businesses, for suspected tax offences HMRC has received from local authorities in each year since 1997 up to the last year forwhich figures are available.

lord bates: The table below shows referrals of (1) individuals, and (2) businesses, for suspected tax offences HMRC has received from local authorities, in each year since 2016 up to the last year for which figures are available. Prior to 2016, HMRC did not record data in a way that captured the originator of referrals.20162017*TOTALINDIVIDUALS571067BUSINESSES481361 *As of 22 November.

Financial Services

lord kinnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they (1) sought, and (2) received, from (a) the Bank of England, and (b) the financial services industries, including insurance and financial derivatives, before tabling their amendment to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill which specifies 11pm on 29 March 2019 as the statutory time and date for departure from the EU.

lord bates: It became clear in the run up to EU (Withdrawal) Bill’s Committee Stage that there was uncertainty as to whether the ‘exit day’ appointed by the Bill would correspond to the day that the UK actually leaves the EU. The Government listened carefully to the debate around setting ‘exit day’ for statutory purposes of the Bill and recognised the importance of providing as much certainty as possible.  The Treasury is working closely with the Bank of England to ensure the UK’s smooth and orderly withdrawal from the European Union.

Financial Services

lord kinnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements are being made to assist UK financial services industries with the review, modification, or termination of international contracts with companies and countries in the EU27 before 11pm on 29 March 2019, in order to ensure that relevant contracts will be legally enforceable after that time.

lord bates: As the Financial Policy Committee explained in its November Financial Stability Report, a withdrawal of permissions to conduct cross-border business following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union could impair financial companies’ ability to perform or service outstanding financial contracts. This could affect both UK and EU financial services firms and their customers. The FPC judges that the largest identified risks relate to over-the-counter derivatives and insurance contracts.The Government has been actively engaging with the UK regulators and with the financial services sector to understand how the UK's exit from the EU could impact financial services firms and their customers, including through the effect of withdrawal on existing contractual relationships. The Government is considering all options for mitigating risks to the continuity of outstanding cross-border financial services contracts.

VAT: Tax Evasion

baroness primarolo: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made for each of the last six financial years of the revenue lost as a consequence of carousel fraud.

lord bates: The latest available estimates of the amount of VAT lost to Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) fraud for the last five years are published annually in the Chapter 2 of the ‘Measuring tax gaps’ publication[1]. For 2015-16, this was estimated at £0.5-1 billion. Further ‘Measuring tax gaps’ online tables are published giving the estimate of the VAT lost to MTIC fraud since 2005-06[2]. The MTIC tax gap estimates includes multiple types of fraud not traditional carousel fraud alone. The estimates are published as a range to reflect the uncertainty in the estimation of the MTIC tax gap. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/measuring-tax-gaps [2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/measuring-tax-gaps-tables



HMRC Measuring Tax Gaps 
(PDF Document, 1.02 MB)




HMRC Measuring Tax Gaps Table 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 374.36 KB)

Taxation

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what equality impact assessments were made before the introduction of each tax change during the past seven years; and what potential adverse impacts on different groups of people were identified.

lord bates: Equality impact analyses, which cover all protected characteristics, are included as part of the tax impact assessment process that was introduced by the Government in 2011. Tax Impact and Information Notes (TIINs) are reviewed prior to decisions being taken and are published on GOV.UK.

Cabinet Office

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

baroness armstrong of hill top: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of interference by Russian sources with the referendum in the UK on 23 June 2016.

lord young of cookham: As the Prime Minister made clear in her Mansion House speech, Russia makes aggressive use of cyber capability to mount sustained campaigns of espionage and disruption.To date, we have not seen evidence of successful interference in UK elections or referendums. We take any allegations of interference in UK democratic processes by a foreign government extremely seriously.

Civil Servants: Training

lord laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that civil servants are well-trained and that performance management steps are taken when necessary.

lord young of cookham: The Civil Service is committed to building the capability of all its employees and supporting their development. Our core learning offer provided via Civil Service Learning (CSL) incorporates 130 topics including leadership and management, customer service, finance and policy development. Learning is provided via free online modules, workshops and practical exercises. Job specific/technical learning is developed in partnership with professions and functions. To support easier access, a new Learning Platform for Government will begin rollout in 2018.Civil servants discuss their development with their manager and can access an online self-assessment tool to help identify their learning needs. A key manager role is building capability in others and a ‘Management Fundamentals’ package linked to the Chartered Management Institute’s Level 3 (Team Leader) has been available since December 2017.Our 4000 Senior Civil Servants now have access to the Civil Service Leadership Academy (CSLA), launched in October 2017. The CSLA offers a wide range of learning approaches tailored to SCS needs, including case study events, master-classes, newsletters, coaching, peer mentoring and 360 degree feedback.All departments take Performance management (PM) seriously; it is a key element of development and building. The Civil Service PM policy, introduced in 2012, has helped identify different levels of performance and ensure people are able to continuously develop. Where performance and/or capability is below the required standard, departments have policies and measures in place to ensure individuals are given the support and learning they need to improve. Further action is taken where performance does not improve within acceptable timescales.The new Performance Management Framework introduced in 2017 continues to identify different levels of performance and also places a greater focus on coaching and supporting civil servants to help them perform effectively.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish Broadband Delivery UK's final report into superfast broadband market test pilots.

lord ashton of hyde: The Department will publish its final conclusions on the superfast broadband market test pilots in due course. Until that time, the attached information on these test pilots can be found on our website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/superfast-broadband-programme-phase-3



BDUK Market Test Pilot 
(PDF Document, 1.66 MB)

Department of Health

Dental Health

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment theyhavemade of dental health inequalities in England.

lord o'shaughnessy: National dental surveys show that inequalities in children’s oral health are associated with deprivation, geography and ethnicity. Inequalities in child oral health have been reported in surveys carried out as part of the dental epidemiology programme in England, and within the decennial Children’s Dental Health Survey. A copy of the executive summary is attached. For example, children in the north of England have higher levels of tooth decay than those in the south, and those from Chinese and Eastern European backgrounds have higher levels of tooth decay than other ethnic backgrounds. National surveys of adult oral health also report inequalities according to social class and geography. A copy of the Executive Summary: Adult Dental Health Survey 2009 is attached. Oral health inequalities are influenced by socio-economic factors such as differences in levels of income and employment experienced by different groups; and by behaviours such as having a poor diet high in sugar and low access to fluoride.



Adult Dental Health Survey 2009
(PDF Document, 175.82 KB)




Children's Dental Health Survey
(PDF Document, 307.33 KB)